Bell Ringing
Your holiday shopping trip to most retail stores would not be complete without the familiar “ding, ding, ding” of a Salvation Army volunteer ringing a bell and collecting money in a hanging “Red Kettle”.

According to the Salvation Army, the Red Kettle Campaign, the oldest annual charitable fundraiser of its kind in the United States, helps raise money for those who need it most in communities nationwide – providing toys for kids, coats for the homeless, food for the hungry and countless social service programs year-round.

The bell ringing season starts each November and runs throughChristmas Eve, when the red kettles are packed away for the season.Volunteers are the difference between an empty kettle and one that raises about $30 per hour – enough to provide a family with two bags of groceries,or shelter an individual for a night.

Co-chair Dick Maxwell reported that the Omaha Works Volunteers were able to continue ringing bell again this year, but were able to cover only three Saturdays in December at the Sam’s store located on the old front lawn East of 132rd and L Street.

Submitted by Dick Maxwell